Fragmentation and dispersion of aluminum nitride ceramic plates by hypervelocity impact

The present paper describes the fragmentation and dispersion of aluminum nitride ceramic plates by a hypervelocity projectile impact. A manganese aluminide spherical magnet was used as a projectile, with a diameter of 1 mm; it was accelerated by a so-called ''micro'' two-stage light gas gun in the velocity range of 3-4 km/s. The fragmentation of aluminum ni t ride plates was evaluated by characterizing the distribution of fragments produced downrange behind the target plate. This fragmentation was then compared with that of aluminum alloy plates. In particular, ring-type distributions of fragments were found in the fragmentation of aluminum nitride ceramic plates. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.